A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

Choosing Jaxon was an easy decision. There no reason to hesitate.

For a mission, it made sense to go with the most capable person. Jaxon had taken on the most requests within the Troublemaker Squad. This meant he had a lot of experience and was often sought after. His keen senses were beneficial for escort missions, which was obvious. Compared to other squad members, he was less likely to clash with the escort target.

“Of course.”

Jaxon nodded as if it were natural, while Rem threw a fit, unable to understand. Ragna also voiced that he found it strange. Audin questioned if it was against the will of the gods.

Naturally, Ragna and Rem started bickering. When Jaxon taunted Rem, Ragna backed off, leaving Rem and Jaxon to fight.

Enkrid tried to intervene but eventually told them not to even look at each other.

“If you want to spar, do it with me.”

With that, Enkrid ended the day by sparring with each squad member in turn. Although he might have felt mentally exhausted, it was a normal day for the Troublemaker Squad. Especially for Enkrid, who had wielded a sword for many years despite his lack of talent. This was nothing significant.

If he had been mentally affected by this, he would have given up the sword long ago and picked up a plow instead.

“As expected of the squad leader.”

Kraiss gave him a thumbs up, once again praising his mental strength. Enkrid nodded lightly in acknowledgment.

The escort mission was the next day. It was a matter concerning the successor of a medium-sized trading company, within the city. Three people were assigned to it.

The elf company commander, Enkrid, and Jaxon.

There was no need to move early in the morning since the escort target was arriving in the city around noon.

The next morning, after a good night's sleep, Esther was in his arms again.

“Why did you do that yesterday?”

He asked with sleep still in his eyes, and Esther nudged his chest with her hand. Although he didn't know why she was angry, it seemed to be a sign of reconciliation.

“Alright, take it easy today.”

Esther had nothing much to do. At night, she would sleep in his arms. In the morning, she would wake up and laze around. Sometimes she went out, and it seemed she caught and ate rats near the city.

Although he didn't usually provide meals, he often gave her jerky as a snack. All the squad members took good care of Esther.

Especially Kraiss, who looked after her diligently.

“Lake Panthers sharpen their claws when the time comes. If I take them, no one will complain.”

Just as they shed their fur, they also sharpened their claws. Kraiss had a good reason for taking care of her.

“You little rascal.”

“Meow.”

Her turning away was cute, so he scratched her head a few times before getting up. It was breakfast time.

“Let's see how well you do without me.”

Rem was on breakfast duty. He glared at Enkrid, who reflexively raised his fist.

Smack.

Rem blocked it with his palm.

“Is it fine if you go with a broken arm? Challenging me in the morning.”

“No, it was a reflex when I saw your face.”

“That makes me even more upset.”

That could be true. Despite his words, Rem didn't attack. After all, it was a mission day. If they got injured, nothing would go well. Breakfast consisted of grilled pork tenderloin and boiled potatoes, but it tasted terrible.

“It’s good for the body. Meat strengthens the muscles, brother.”

The technique of isolation was about building the body, and the completion of building the body was eating well, as Audin said. Enkrid also ate reluctantly, knowing it was important to eat well regardless of Audin's words.

After warming up his body with isolation techniques during the free time, it was time to depart. Enkrid washed at the well and prepared his equipment. He wore the leather armor obtained from raiding the Gielpin Thieves Guild. It only covered his torso, but it was thin, elastic, and wasn’t uncomfortable.

After he strapped the knife sheath of the Whistling Dagger over his armor, Jaxon asked from the side,

“What’s that?”

“I took it when I killed an assassin.”

“How thrifty.”

Was that what it meant?

Anyway, he thought it was quite a useful tool, so he took it. The more of these kinds of weapons, the better. After completing his gear with a thick gambeson, he stepped outside.

He walked alongside Jaxon and headed to the inn in the city. Jaxon explained how to listen well and see well while they walked. And he didn't forget to add a word.

“You're dull.”

Enkrid didn’t mind. He had always known he was dull. When they arrived at the intersection with four inns at its center, the company commander was already there.

“Has the escort target arrived?”

Enkrid saluted briefly and asked.

“Not yet. They’ll be here soon.”

There were rumors that the escort target had a difficult personality. This was a word passed down from Kraiss. Since taking over the guild, his ears seemed sharper than before.

“They said they came to decide on the successor.”

He was curious about how troublesome the personality was, but it wasn't a big concern. Not many were as troublesome as Rem. Just spend a month in the Troublemaker Squad. Any troublemaker would start to look cute.

Enkrid was indifferent. Jaxon didn't care either. For him, a mission was just a mission. They just had to protect the target for three days until the succession meeting within the company was over. All they had to do was ensure safety within the city.

With everything clear in his mind, there wasn’t much to think about.

The company commander, an elf, looked at the back of Enkrid’s head, recalling why she brought him along. The commander of the Troublemaker Squad, this man was a target of Azpen’s assassination. This was proof that he was clean. Moreover, she liked how he handled the Thieves Guild.

He maintained the bribes. He turned the criminal guild into an information guild. Thanks to that, there was no conflict with the Battalion Commander.

Knowing that removing the criminal guild would cause problems, she let him handle it. If the bribes stopped and the higher-ups made an issue, she was prepared to handle it.

But the squad leader didn’t even let that happen.

‘Things aren't going as planned, but...’

It wasn't bad. The company commander opened her mouth as they waited for the escort target.

“Have we been involved?”

Enkrid had his hand tilted on the hilt of his sword. His whole body seemed to freeze for a moment. Like a well-crafted statue, he slowly turned his head and asked.

“What do you mean?”

“If it’s loud enough for me to hear, you must already know.”

“It’s a misunderstanding. Just a rumor. Since things are quiet lately, there are those wasting time with nonsense.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Then we’re nothing?”

“We’re just a superior and a subordinate.”

“I see.”

He had to brush it off with a silly conversation. The rumor had spread far and deep.

“Ahem.”

Jaxon cleared his throat next to him. He seemed to be suppressing a smile. The corner of his mouth twitched.

‘Is this funny?’

He asked with just his lips.

‘I’m not laughing.’

Jaxon replied the same way. The company commander read their lips effortlessly.

“Were you troubled?”

“No.”

Enkrid responded immediately.

“It seemed troublesome?”

“No.”

“So you liked it?”

Why was she doing this?

“Noo.”

His answer came out slightly elongated. He might have laughed if he said it differently, but he remained expressionless. He didn’t even make eye contact and looked at the other side of the city.

‘Elven humor...’

It was hard to get used to.

“They're coming.”

Jaxon’s remark saved Enkrid from his predicament. The escort target was approaching.

Thud, thud.

The ground shook as a two-horse carriage approached. Enkrid felt it would be much easier dealing with the escort target than the company commander.

“That was fun.”

The company commander whispered, sending shivers down Enkrid’s spine. Even with a fur-lined cloak, he felt a chill. Soon the carriage stopped, and someone got out. It was different from what Enkrid had expected.

‘Not a chubby, greedy toad, but...’

A woman with striking features. She had long blonde hair and reddish-brown eyes. She was remarkably beautiful. The sound of her boot heels hitting the ground echoed as she descended from the carriage and faced the elf company commander.

“Please take care of me.”

There was no need for an introduction as the escort from the standing army. From that moment on, she only spoke to her entourage.

A middle-aged woman, possibly her nanny, conveyed the escort target's wishes. The blonde woman was said to be just over twenty, and her personality was yet to be determined.

‘We'll find out by talking.’

He hadn't made eye contact yet, so he couldn't say much.

“This will be an easy job.”

Jaxon said, and Enkrid nodded. Though he expected her to come alone, she had brought five swordsmen for protection. Among them, three held shields, and two carried thin swords. Enkrid applied what he had learned.

“Age, posture, position, gaze, all of it is information, brother.”

According to Audin, one should use posture to form an image of the opponent and make deductions.

‘Is it accurate?’

He wasn't sure. Frogs could instinctively gauge an opponent’s skill, but humans needed knowledge and experience.

“You’ll get it over time, brother.”

Audin said, but it wasn’t something that could be done overnight. He wasn't impatient. Enkrid calmly observed his opponents. Among the five, one was left-handed, and the creaking chair indicated heavy armor.

Yet none wore chain mail.

Considering it was winter, wearing metal armor was unnecessary, especially while escorting a carriage. Thick gambeson was more suitable. They wore such attire. Experience and common sense learned from Audin aligned. Judging their equipment and posture, he gauged their skill.

Not all assessments would be correct, but...

‘All five.’

They seemed less skilled than frontier soldiers, below the elite level. Enkrid reflected on what he realized.

‘Not bad.’

Judging skill by posture and equipment was something he couldn’t have imagined doing before. Feeling his growth, Enkrid relished in the joy of improvement. This joy never got old.

It was always fresh and thrilling. His martial skills and combat techniques were improving.

The excitement continued. It was immensely enjoyable. Even though there might not be a chance to draw his sword in this mission. He felt joy in utilizing newly learned skills.

“Shall we play an interesting game?”

Jaxon’s proposal intrigued him. It was a training method.

“It’s called sound matching.”

“Let’s do it.”

Rem and Ragna, like Audin, had a passion for teaching. Though it didn’t show, there was a cold flame of passion. He couldn't be unaware. He benefited from that passion.

So this wasn’t just a game.

Enkrid’s guess was correct. Jaxon’s proposal was a training method to hone the sense of a blade.

Of course, it wasn't easy.

“The sound of clicking the tongue.”

Jaxon said, and Enkrid frowned.

“Too slow.”

Escort missions were generally boring, especially here at the Border Guard. With personal escorts from the trading company, the reason for calling the three was clear.

If they hired escorts and still got attacked, it meant they were challenging the Border Guard. The Border Guard was under the direct control of the king. Touching the kingdom's soldiers within the king’s territory?

Even the renowned Rengadis Trading Company, known for their blank checks, would find it burdensome.

“The third man at the left table.”

How did he know so precisely just by listening?

Enkrid felt he had developed a second sight, but...

It was a simple but challenging game. Jaxon would speak, and Enkrid, focusing on the surrounding sounds, would guess.

“The sound of a knife sharpening.”

The kitchen? No, above.

Enkrid activated Focus Point, concentrating fully. Sweat dripped from his forehead. Despite the fireplace warming the place, where Enkrid stood was chilly.

“Above.”

“The direction is correct. Which floor?”

The inn they were in had three floors. Should he guess? No, that wouldn't be training.

“Room 102.”

Jaxon revealed the correct answer. Timing was crucial in this game. You had to answer on time. After a few rounds, the company commander approached.

“Let me join.”

She was an elf, with senses much sharper than a human's. To Enkrid, she seemed better than Jaxon.

“The sound of a short blade being inserted and drawn repeatedly.”

A new challenge presented itself.

Enkrid repeatedly missed. The elf company commander answered effortlessly.

“The inn entrance.”

“The sound of someone covering their mouth and breathing.”

How did she know that?

Enkrid was baffled, but the elf company commander kept answering correctly in her smooth voice.

“Outside the window.”

“Someone holding their breath while sitting.”

“Under the right table, facing the entrance.”

“A person sneaking glances.”

“Behind you.”

Midway, Enkrid was puzzled. It wasn't about sound anymore. The escort target was the successor of the trading company. The company had brought personal escorts. They occupied a side of the main hall in the inn.

And...

“They’re expecting an attack.”

“Agreed.”

The conversation between Jaxon and the elf company commander made sense to Enkrid. Jaxon stood up, pushing his chair back.

Creak! Thud!

“Oomph.”

Enkrid saw the man hit in the thigh by Jaxon’s chair. He looked startled, holding a black dagger. Enkrid had kept his senses sharp during the sound training.

Seeing Jaxon, Enkrid turned around. There was a man with a dagger. He was about to strike.

Seeing Enkrid turn suddenly, the attacker was surprised, his eyes widened, and his body froze momentarily. Enkrid seized the moment, grabbing the attacker’s wrist.

Crack.

He twisted the wrist outward and raised his elbow.

“Ugh.”

The attacker, wrist twisted, was helplessly pulled by Enkrid. Enkrid struck the attacker’s chest with his elbow.

Crack.

The attacker’s sternum broke, and he dropped the dagger. Enkrid caught it, ducked, and threw it back where he had stood. The dagger flew and embedded into a wooden pillar with a thunk.

It might have seemed like a narrow miss, but...

Enkrid had anticipated it. It was easy to avoid.

‘It's surprising how useful things can be.’

During the assassin's attack at the medical tent, which targeted Crang, Enkrid had to be dealt with first. He had survived every time.

By repeating it daily.

After that, he faced the half-elf assassin's Whistling Dagger. This was a recent event. This too was a daily occurrence. While others might experience it once or twice in their lifetime, he had faced it countless times. It was a culmination of his experiences.

Now, these types of attacks were easy to handle.